Community Free Shop

Over the past month Leave Leeds Tidy have been collecting your unwanted goods and you may be wondering what good your donations are doing for the community…

Aside from preventing items going to Landfill, the main purpose of the campaign is to set up a Community Free Shop, which will be running on the 2nd, 5th, and 6th July. The purpose of the Community Shop is to allow people who may not be able to afford material goods to take what they need, as well as to meet new people and see how living in a student heavy area does not have to be a negative experience.

Although being aimed at those in need it is open to everyone in the community, and with the Rainbow Junktion Cafe running alongside it, it gives everyone a chance to socialise and eat alongside shopping. Check out the poster at the end of the post and we hope to see you there!

We have had amazing donations so far including vintage Polly pockets, printers, a full tea set, full length mirrors, play stations, crockery, a TV, popcorn maker, and even some designer items. It is great to know that these items can help the local community as well as helping the environment. Key items we will be raffling off; people will be able to collect a free ticket for the raffle on the day.

One person who benefited from the Community Free Shop last year was Hector Das, an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka. Hector gained many items from the free shop, such as “clothes, shoes, pots [and pans]” which he still uses to “this day”. The Community Free Shop was also a benefit to him socially as it allowed him to meet new people who are in a similar situation to himself. This gave him a chance to create friendships with his neighbours and share stories about their lives. Hector not only enjoyed participating in the free shop, but he also offered a helping hand in setting up and running the shop. So much so in fact, he has agreed to help out again this year to see what other items have been donated and to meet more people from the local community.

The free shop is an amazing opportunity as it allows engagement between the community and students, as well as offering great work experience for both paid staff and volunteers. I am really looking forward to helping this year as it will enable me to meet lots of different people and we will be able to share stories, experiences and learn more about the Hyde Park community. If you would like to get involved with the Leave Leeds Tidy free shop please get in touch, I hope to see you there and happy moving!